Consistently planning for the future is the hallmark of successful organizations.

And for organizations such as school districts, with limited resources, this is even more important. The decisions made today have a profound impact on the costs incurred, and saved, as K-12 administrators deliver a quality education to the community.

For example consider the impact:

Properly locating and timing of future schools. Having facilities available in the appropriate locations to anticipate future enrollment can save the district millions of dollars in construction costs and portable classroom relocation.

Designing attendance zones to maximize walk-in attendance versus the added cost of transporting students over the life span of the facility. Districts have saved millions of dollars addressing this issue.

Better student transportation planning and routing which could save a district hundreds of thousands of dollars annually by reducing the number of vehicles and routes operated.

Analyzing facility utilization in times of growth or declining enrollment to efficiently use valuable space.

Teacher staffing--understanding the demographics as well as growth and decline within the community to allow a district to better plan school staffing requirements and programs.

Being prepared for emergency situations. Districts need, and are expected, to be prepared for unknown situations that may arise. Well thought out disaster response and recovery plans are essential to all government organizations.

Being able to better communicate and convey the future facility needs and master plan of the school district. Well organized districts are able to visualize and articulate needs to the school board and the community to ensure support and funding.

For the School District with Increasing Enrollment Comprehensive Master Planning Will :

A. Provide Early Identification of Needed Sites..

Provides time for proper inclusion of schools into community plans.

Provides for better engineering of site as to it's relation to adjacent development.

Gives the school district the opportunity to acquire land from original owner rather than the developer.

Tends to reduce land cost.

Tends to avoid unnecessary land acquisition.

B. Provide For More Timely Development of New Buildings.

Tends to reduce the need for incremental planning and construction.

Provides basis for more adequate program for financing.

Provides for a more accurate basis on which advance plans can be developed.

Reduces time lag in meeting building needs.

Reduces construction cost.

Reduces transportation cost.

C. A Well Managed School Building Program Will Improve the School District's Educational Program.

Timely development of needed facilities will tend to promote community support of schools.

Schools as community centers are established early and assist in development of community identity.

Provides for minimum period of transition.

For the School District with Decreasing Enrollment Comprehensive Master Planning Will :

A. Provide A Sound Basis For Implementation Of Educational Changes.

Establishes period of time during which unused spaces can be made available for alternative educational uses or for other community services.

Educational transition can be programmed to take full advantage of available space.

B. Provide A Sound Basis For Managing The Use Of Or Disposition Of Surplus Space.